Tentacles

The Astounding Lives of Octopuses, Squid and Cuttlefishes Special Exhibition

Journey to a world of undersea magicians, masters of disguise and quick-change artists. Our special exhibition is the largest, most diverse living exhibit ever created to showcase these amazing animals. You won't believe your eyes.

In this Exhibit

We try to keep this list as up to date as possible but please check with the information desk when you arrive for a current list of animals on exhibit.

Caribbean reef octopus

Octopus briareus

This octopus flashes an ever-changing array of patterns and colors to blend in with shallow-water rocks and reef. Light-reflecting skin cells make it shimmer.

This animal swims using jet propulsion—it expels water from its mantle cavity through a siphon near its head.

Range:
Indo-Pacific

What are Cephalopods?

Octopuses, squid, cuttlefishes and nautiluses are marine molluscs, related to snails and slugs. They're found in the world's ocean and at all depths. They can be colorful or transparent and range in size from less than an inch to more than 50 feet. More than 800 species of cephalopods have been identified. These animals share a similar body plan that includes a head and eyes, a mantle and siphon, arms and tentacles, a beak and a file-like radula.

Octopus
only have arms
(eight of them)

Nautilus
only have tentacles
(up to 100 of them!)

Squid
have eight arms + two retractable tentacles

Cuttlefish
have eight arms + two retractable tentacles

The Art of Adapting

Quick-Change Artists

Octopuses, squid and cuttlefishes create an amazing array of colors, patterns, textures and shapes for camouflage and communication. Chromatophores—color organs made of nerves and muscles and tiny sacs of pigment—transform these animals as they hide from predators or hunt for prey.

Clever Hunters

Squid and cuttlefishes use mesmerizing color changes to lure or confuse prey, then they snatch a snack using two long tentacles. Octopuses catch their prey by surprise, using camouflage, jet propulsion and the sure grip that comes with having eight arms.

Movers and Shakers

Some cephalopods lumber along the seafloor, crawling or walking. Others use jet propulsion, filling their muscular bodies with water, then squirting it from tubular siphons. Some animals use a combination of these methods to move through the water.

Behind the Scenes

Quick-Change Artists

Octopuses, squid and cuttlefishes create an amazing array of colors, patterns, textures and shapes for camouflage and communication. Chromatophores—color organs made of nerves and muscles and tiny sacs of pigment—transform these animals as they hide from predators or hunt for prey.

Clever Hunters

Squid and cuttlefishes use mesmerizing color changes to lure or confuse prey, then they snatch a snack using two long tentacles. Octopuses catch their prey by surprise, using camouflage, jet propulsion and the sure grip that comes with having eight arms.

Movers and Shakers

Some cephalopods lumber along the seafloor, crawling or walking. Others use jet propulsion, filling their muscular bodies with water, then squirting it from tubular siphons. Some animals use a combination of these methods to move through the water.